英語聽力：自然百科 小鯨魚錯認游艇為母

Animal Conservationists in Australia expressed concern on Tuesday that a lost humpback whalecalf separated from its mother could die within days, unless it finds its own mother or another mother to adopt it. The calf believed to be one or two months old was first sighted on Sunday in waters off north Sydney. It’s been attempting to suckle from various yachts in the harbor since Monday.

“Um I think that its mother has rejected it and its , and the mother’s moved on.”

Other experts suggest its mother may have died and the calf may be an orphan.

According to Mackintosh, rescuers towed one yacht out to sea and the calf finally detached from the boat, but it returned to an inlet near Sydney on Tuesday morning.

“It’s, it’s moved back in here. Um…it’s still showing a suckling habit. It’s quietly going around from boat to boat, which confirms that it is a young calf and probably still was suckling and relying on its mother.”

Officials said hand feeding would be impossible and they believed the calf’s only chance was to find another female whale to accept it.

“The calf really needs its mum’s milk. It’s a desperate situation for that young calf without its mother’s milk.”